Escapee hunted as southern Utah jail reviews security

Security is under review at Washington County's Purgatory Correctional Facility after the first inmate escape in the jail's history.

Doyle Pope Dockstader, 28, scaled two razor wire fences in the jail's exercise yard Sunday, Washington County Sheriff Kirk Smith said.

Smith said Dockstader was in the yard exercising when another inmate hurt his knee. Smith said the guard went to take care of the injured inmate, during which time Dockstader was able to get over the fence and out.

Investigators said they found a small amount of blood nearby, leading them to believe Dockstader was cut during his escape. He was tracked two miles away to the county landfill, where police believe Dockstader stole a pickup.

"The truck leaked oil," Smith said, adding that deputies followed an oil trail to Washington City, where the truck was found abandoned at about 3 a.m. Authorities said a car reported stolen Monday morning in the same area may be linked to Dockstader.

After the escape, inmates at the Purgatory Jail were put in lockdown, Lt. Jake Adams said.

"We have things kind of on high alert," he said Monday.

A security review is now under way to find what allowed Dockstader to escape. The Purgatory Jail is a minimum-to-medium security facility.

"There are some things I'm sure we'll make modifications on," Smith said. "We've seen a couple of areas it appears where people are a bit lazy."

The jail currently houses Warren Jeffs, the leader of the Fundamentalist LDS Church. Jeffs, 50, is facing rape-as-an-accomplice charges accusing him of arranging a child bride marriage and threatening the 14-year-old victim with loss of her "salvation" in heaven for objecting to the union. Jeffs was a fugitive on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list until his capture in August.

Jeffs is kept separate from the rest of the jail's population and watched constantly, authorities said.

"He's secure," Adams said of Jeffs. "That's safe to say."

Dockstader has a long rap sheet, with criminal cases stretching back to 1996. Court records show he is currently facing several felony charges, including theft, assault, threats and weapons charges. A woman has also filed a protective order against him, accusing Dockstader of punching her and threatening her with a gun while driving.

"She said he racked a round into the chamber while holding it up, and told her to watch herself and to watch out," a St. George police officer wrote in an arrest probable cause statement obtained by the Deseret Morning News.

Adams said steps have been taken to ensure the safety of that woman.

Dockstader was also on parole from the Utah State Prison, where he did time for a number of offenses including drug and theft charges. A new warrant was issued Monday for Dockstader's arrest for escape.

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com